34 OTIS TARDA. 



with black, presently leave the nest, and accompany their 

 mother. When they are fledged, the different families unite 

 into flocks, and are joined by the males. It does not appear 

 that this species is migratory, as it occurs in Germany and 

 France, and has been seen in England, during winter ; but 

 in time of snow it leaves the open grounds, and betakes itself 

 to the cultivated fields, where, attracting notice by its great 

 size, it is more liable to be surprised and shot. Its flesh is 

 held in great estimation on the Continent, where it is often 

 exposed for sale in the markets. It occurs in Spain, Italy, 

 and all the south-eastern parts of Europe ; but its distri- 

 bution in Asia and Africa has not been traced. 



The extensive plains of Wiltshire, on which Bustards 

 were formerly numerous, seem to have latterly been entirely 

 deserted by them ; and the county of Norfolk appears to be 

 the only district in which they now permanently reside, 

 although in greatly diminished numbers. In Sussex, Cam- 

 bridgeshire, and Lincolnshire they are also now and then 

 met with. In the Yorkshire wolds, which they used to fre- 

 quent in considerable numbers, none, I believe, have been 

 seen for several years. The only district in Scotland where 

 it has been recently seen is the low tract in Morayshire 

 between Elgin and the sea. As it is not permanently resi- 

 dent there, it must come from a great distance, so that its 

 powers of flight must be considerable. According to the 

 Rev. Mr. Gordon, in his Fauna of Moray, " one was shot 

 near Oakenhead, in 1803, by the late William Young, Esq., 

 of Burghead ; another was taken a few years ago at Inch- 

 broom, by Charles Barclay, Esq." 



